Born Anna Mary Robertson in 1860, this  artist left home at a young age to work as a hired girl at a neighboring farm.Marrying at age 27, she eventually gave birth to 10 children (5 of whom survived past infancy). Moses disliked spending time knitting and sewing, but she began entertaining herself by making needlework pictures and quilts portraying colorful scenes of farm life.

At 78, when arthritis rendered her unable to embroider, friends suggested she try painting instead. Although familiar with the hardships and sorrow of farm life, she illustrated happy childhood memories of fields and storms, barn dances, and holidays.Moses gained the nickname “Grandma Moses” from a reviewer at New York’s Herald Tribune. She exhibited her work internationally into her 90s and painted until a few months before her death in 1961 at age 101.

Above: Anna Mary Robertson [Grandma] Moses (American, 1860–1961). Thanksgiving Turkey, 1943. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, This painting is currently on view in the American Wing, Gallery 774

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at DART,

Peggy